Make Good Nutrition a Family Affair

Life seems to be changing rapidly as the United States responds to the threat of the new coronavirus. We’ve been asked to hunker down at home as much as possible. And with schools in Cuyahoga, Summit, Portage, and Geauga counties closed for the foreseeable future, kids are home and parents are looking for ways to keep them occupied.

Podiatrists Dr. Craig B. Frey and Dr. Megan L. Oltmann suggest you add this to your basket of ideas: because March is National Nutrition Month, you can teach kids that good nutrition is important for their feet. If we want our feet to continue allowing us to stand, walk, run, and play sports, we’ve got to take in the right nutrients. For example, we all need to consume plenty of calcium and vitamin D to keep bones strong. And drinking lots of water helps to keep skin hydrated and less likely to crack open.

Teach your kids about good nutrition with lessons that mirror their school subjects. These are just some ideas.

We encourage you to be creative, make up your own, and adapt these ideas for various grade levels.

Practical arts – even very young children can learn to cook meals, grilled sandwiches, or baked goods. Throw in some math practice as you measure teaspoons, tablespoons, and fractions of cups.

Science – become familiar with nutrition labels; research individual ingredients and how they act in the body; learn about recommended ways to fill your plate with nutritious foods (a good resource for these activities is choosemyplate.gov).

Social studies – research what foods are popular in various cultures; study what crops grow where, and which countries are responsible for importing and exporting them.

Computer/matching skills – pick a color and surf the web for matching foods you’ve never had before. Use all the colors of the rainbow. Find recipes that use these new, healthy ingredients. Order some of these foods online if you can’t go out and use them to create nutritious meals.

Take good care of yourself in the coming weeks. If foot pain is ever an issue for you, Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland is here to help. We treat all problems of the toes, feet, and ankles, from the mundane to the complex. Contact us at our office in Solon, Ohio at (440) 903-1041 or make an appointment online.